Poetry Competition Winnershttp://www.birdsinbackyards.net/taxonomy/term/2312/%2A
enAdulthttp://www.birdsinbackyards.net/Adult
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><strong>Winner</strong></p><p>Mike Berrimen</p><p>Of all the birds that I hold dear</p><p>The Butcher Bird calls when he is near</p><p>His woodnote pierces our early dawn</p><p>To this honeyed sound, I am drawn.</p><p> </p><p>His songs and warbles ,these calls we dote</p><p>Fixing our mind on one long note</p><p>He chatters and warbles an occasional baulk</p><p>His tunes unique, but cannot talk.</p><p> </p><p>Our pieball friends sit on our rail</p><p>Of plated titbits they do avail</p><p>I toss small morsels in the air</p><p>They quickly respond from anywhere.</p><p> </p><p>These patched birds all seen so tame</p><p>But savagery is their claim to fame</p><p>A downturned beak a surely sign</p><p>This hunter is, no bird benign.</p><p> </p><p>Insects and spiders a common diet</p><p>Skilful hunters yet they are quiet</p><p>Until they burst into joyful play</p><p>And herald our world at start of day.</p><p> </p><p>Our Maggies and Rosellas have basic calls</p><p>With multiple notes our friend enthralls</p><p>Kookaburras laugh , one ranging cry</p><p>Our Butcher Birds tune does fill the sky.</p><p> </p><p>I love these hunters and pieball clowns</p><p>Rich on life ,so good on sounds</p><p>I have taped their music for friends overseas</p><p>Their unique melody a gift to please.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Runner's Up</strong></p><p>Carolyn Doyle</p><p><em>Grey-crowned Babblers</em></p><p>I'd like to come back as a gabbler,</p><p>in the form of a Grey-crowned Babbler,</p><p>I have three in my yard,</p><p>and it's not very hard, </p><p>to be charmed by their vernacular.</p><p> </p><p>To my joy they are often seen bouncing,</p><p>around my garden a pouncing,</p><p>scratching the soil,</p><p>for insects they toil,</p><p>or a spider that may cop a trouncing!</p><p> </p><p>They constantly giggle and natter,</p><p>like the rest of the world doesn't matter,</p><p>they do make me grin</p><p>and my heart they do win,</p><p>every time that I hear their sweet chatter!</p><p> </p><p>Sue Laing</p><p><em>The Blue 'Boy Wonder'</em></p><p>He struts and flits and tweets and flirts…that Sheik, the Blue ‘Boy Wonder’</p><p>They follow and furrow and burrow and dig…the Harem, serving under.</p><p> </p><p>His depth of blues is sheer delight, his body all a-toned</p><p>Their drab browns are his power, his surety they’re “owned”.</p><p> </p><p>And who can blame the ladies, for their mini peacock’s charm</p><p>Is sure unmatched in nature; his plumage ne’er outdone.</p><p> </p><p>So when the twitter’s settled down, at sunset, in the bush</p><p>Respect the revel that’s to come, when all around is hushed.</p><p> </p><p>For he’s a job to do, for sure - a challenge for a tot</p><p>He’s got to keep ‘em happy, that brown bevy, that whole lot!</p><p> </p><p>We spare a thought each night for his athletic interventions</p><p>And greet him in the morn with nowt but curious intentions</p><p> </p><p>To check his brood and how they’ve fared and maybe count the cost</p><p>Oh no, it’s as we sometimes fear - another one’s gone lost!!</p><p> </p><p>They come…they go: they‘re “there”, these little chappies</p><p>Thank God they are for if they weren’t we wouldn’t be so happy.</p><p> </p><p>Amy Akers<br /><em>Brown Thornbills</em></p><p>Brown thornbills are my favourite bird.</p><p>They easily win hands down.</p><p>They always provide us with a smile</p><p>When we’d previously had a frown.</p><p> </p><p>They come in twos and flit about</p><p>Amongst our scrubby plants.</p><p>Our paperbark and hibiscus</p><p>Provide a venue for their dance.</p><p> </p><p>At first we only heard them;</p><p>Their happy song a real delight.</p><p>And then we later spotted them</p><p>In and out of the dappled light.</p><p> </p><p>They urged us to plant more bushy shrubs</p><p>To provide more habitat.</p><p>So that we can see more of them</p><p>And hear their happy chat.</p><p> </p><p>We really love our “thornies”.</p><p>Not just an LBJ.</p><p>Please keep an eye out for them;</p><p>They could brighten up your day.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-about-birds field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/birds/Poetry-Competition-Winners" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Poetry Competition Winners</a></div></div></div>Wed, 22 Jun 2016 02:20:38 +0000Holly64221 at http://www.birdsinbackyards.netChildren'shttp://www.birdsinbackyards.net/Childrens
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><strong>Winner: Ryu Callaway</strong></p><p><em>My first birdy memory</em></p><p>A few years back in time,</p><p>Before I knew a single call,</p><p>I heard a melody from behind</p><p>Who could be playing such a tune?</p><p> </p><p>We looked around in wonder,</p><p>together we pondered,</p><p>But we had little idea,</p><p>On what it could be.</p><p> </p><p>We thought out aloud,</p><p>Surely not a Friarbird,</p><p>Do I dare say a Lyrebird?</p><p>In my suburban yard!</p><p> </p><p>Right and wrong, we all were,</p><p>For it was neither friar nor liar.</p><p>Instead we looked out upon,</p><p>A grey bird atop our washing line.</p><p> </p><p>I managed a single shot,</p><p>On my brand new camera</p><p>Through the branches and the rain,</p><p>Without a clue as to what it was.</p><p> </p><p>Now I am a birder,</p><p>And at last I knew it’s name,</p><p>A Grey Shrike-thrush is what it’s called,</p><p>A happy one too</p><p> </p><p>Now I see them often,</p><p>In reserves and parks,</p><p>But never has it returned,</p><p>To our forlorn yard.</p><p> </p><p>I will never forget,</p><p>The day that that bird came</p><p>The humble figure in the yard,</p><p>Singing in the rain.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Runner's Up</strong></p><p>Rachel Johnson</p><p><em>‘My Favourite Backyard Bird’</em></p><p>Magpie</p><p>The Magpie in my backyard swoops,</p><p>And he does lots and lots of poops.</p><p>I like to watch the Magpie glide,</p><p>When he comes I need to hide.</p><p> </p><p>A magpie’s beak is really pointy,</p><p>And his song is very noisy.</p><p>He picks up worms with his beak,</p><p>If I were a worm, I would shriek.</p><p> </p><p>His pretty feathers are white and black,</p><p>But if he hit my head, it would crack.</p><p>His babies he likes to protect,</p><p>When he leaves, his nest I will collect.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Liam Johnson</p><p><em>My favourite Backyard Bird</em></p><p>Willy Wagtail</p><p>There once was a bird that was small,</p><p>And it had a really cute call.</p><p>He likes to swing his little tail,</p><p>Even in a really strong gale.</p><p> </p><p>He goes branch to branch and hops and hops,</p><p>Until he sees a dog and stops.</p><p>Into the leafy trees he flits,</p><p>And when he lands he sits.</p><p> </p><p>His tail is always wagging,</p><p>It looks as if he is bragging.</p><p>If he is dancing,</p><p>I hope he`s advancing.</p><p> </p><p>Melina Hicks</p><p><em>My Robin</em></p><p>At the farm </p><p>looking and staring </p><p>they fly around so quick</p><p>little red breasts </p><p>everywhere.</p><p> </p><p>We watch as they play </p><p>find food for their young</p><p> </p><p>soon they will sleep </p><p>until spring again.</p><p> </p><p>Grace Cox</p><p>My favourite backyard bird</p><p>Is the crimson rosella.</p><p>It makes a sound of quiet peeping,</p><p>and “twit twoo”says the little fella.</p><p>If you watch it closely</p><p>You will see it feeds</p><p>On fruit, nuts, flowers</p><p>Nectar, insects and seeds.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-about-birds field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/birds/Poetry-Competition-Winners" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Poetry Competition Winners</a></div></div></div>Wed, 22 Jun 2016 01:59:15 +0000Holly64220 at http://www.birdsinbackyards.net